Natural Herbal Beauty

Milk cleansers are much gentler on your skin than soaps. Making your own herbal cleansing milks is simple. To keep them fresh for more than

1 week, freeze the strained herbal milks in ice cube trays, and pop out a cube to thaw as needed.

For Dry to Normal Skin:

2 tablespoons calendula flowers

1 tablespoon chamomile flowers

1 tablespoon rose petals (more…)

This rich avocado mask can be used weekly as a treat to nourish dry skin. Mix up a large batch and apply it to your arms and legs if they tend to be dry and flaky.

• 1 tablespoon ripe avocado
• 1 teaspoon yogurt
• 1 teaspoon Gentle Cleansing Grains
• 3 drops sandalwood or lavender essential oil (more…)
   

THIS WAS ONCE USED AS A SMOKING TOBACCO FOR ASTHMA: Mix 1 cup each of rosemary, coltsfoot leaves, eyebright, thyme and lavender. Crush and mix well. Roll into cigarettes or place mixture in a pipe for smoking. I don’t know anyone who has tried this recipe, but it was said to have been used quite often by Native Americans.

ASTHMA: Mix 1 tablespoon each of boneset, Irish moss, coltsfoot, mullein, thyme, rosemary, valerian, and lobelia. Add 1 teaspoon of the herbal mixture to 1 cup of boiling water. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain. Peppermint or cherry oil may be added for flavoring if desired. Drink 4 cups daily to obtain relief. (more…)

COUGH SYRUP: Put 1 tablespoon elecampane, 3 tablespoons boneset, 1 tablespoon coltsfoot, 1 tablespoon Irish Moss and 1 tablespoon of lobelia in a pint of water. Boil down to half the liquid. Strain well and add 1 pint of honey. Refrigerate and take by the tablespoon as needed for cough.

COUGH SYRUP: Put 1 tablespoon each of boneset, Irish moss, white yarrow, slippery elm bark, thyme, peppermint, horehound and lemon balm in 1 quart of boiling water. Steep for 30 minutes. Strain well and add 1 quart of honey. Drink several cups of this liquid a day for coughs.

CURRENT COUGH SYRUP: Simmer 3 teaspoons of black currents in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Strain and add 2 tablespoons of honey. Use as needed for coughs. (more…)

BEST FOR BRINGING OUT MEASLES, AS IT WILL INDUCE SWEATING: Measles is a childhood disease that was thought at one time to be an uncomplicated disease. We now know that complications can and do happen. Best treatment is to have the little patient stay in bed and keep the room dimly lit. Provide quiet activities to keep the patient as quiet as possible. Provide plenty of liquids and keep the patient on a light, wholesome diet. Tepid baths seem to help the patient keep fever down and provide comfort. If the child is running a fever and the rash has not yet broken out, this herbal remedy will help them. Once the rash has broken out, the fever seems to go down somewhat. The disease lasts about 5 days. The fever should subside during those 5 days as the rash starts to disappear. (more…)

BRONCHITIS TREATMENT: Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes. Some people are more prone to infection here then others. The infection is often preceded by a common cold, flu, or can be caused by a streptococcus organism. The predisposing factors may be chilling, fatigue, or even malnutrition. Many times the predisposition can be attributed to allergies or inhalation of chemical agents such as fumes or dust particles.

Treatment of chronic bronchitis should be supervised by your family physician. He or she will find the reason that you suffer from chronic bronchitis and treat you accordingly. Your treatment may require a change in living habits. Smokers have to stop smoking. You may even have to change your sleeping habits. Never sleep in an extremely cold room and be sure to cover your mouth during very cold weather when outdoors. Bed rest is advised along with plenty of fluids and a light diet. Broths, fruit juices, and again, I stress plenty of water. (more…)

While we all get colds at one time or another, we can minimize the severity and length of the illness by the condition we keep our system in.

Diaphoretics cause the patient to perspire and increase blood circulation, thus helping the system to get rid of accumulated poisons and toxins in the body.

Expectorants can and do help the body in dispelling mucus from the system.

Demulcents soothe irritated and inflamed areas, thus allowing the body to heal.

Put the patient on a light diet during the illness and while recuperating. If the patient is in a weakened condition, do not use a strong stimulant. Give clear broths and tonics to build the strength back up. (more…)

BONESET FOR SINUS CONGESTION: This may take several days to loosen up congestion. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon of boneset. Cover and steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink with every meal and before bed.

TO CLEAN SINUS PASSAGE DURING A COLD: Add 1 ounce mullein herb and 1 tablespoon of balm of Gilead to a kettle of boiling water. Inhale the steam.

TO CLEAR STUFFY NOSE: Place several trays of ice cubes in a basin of water and place only the toes in the water until numb. Sounds crazy, but it works.

STUFFY NOSE: Put 1/4 cup lemon thyme in 1 quart of water. Boil and inhale the steam. This clears a stuffy nose. (more…)

CANKER TREATMENT: Put 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1 glass of water and use the solution to rinse the mouth and relieve the pain.

CANKER TREATMENT: Add 1 teaspoon of cinquefoil to 2 pints water. Boil gently until liquid is halved. Strain well, adding 2 tablespoons of borax to herb mixture. Use as a mouth wash. Do not swallow.

THRUSH TREATMENT: Thrush is caused by the growth of Candida albicans in the mouth or throat. It is characterized by the formation of white patches or sores. It is found most often in young children and can cause fever and pain. My father had the gift of being able to blow into the mouth of the person affected with thrush and it would go away. I recall several people throughout my life who had this gift. I don’t try to explain how or why they were able to do so, just that it did work. (more…)

SOOTHING BATH FOR TENSION HEADACHES: Put 1 ounce each of mugwort, valerian, chamomile, and agrimony to 1 pint of boiling water. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and add to bath water. Very good for aching muscles.

MILD SEDATIVE: Pour 1 pint boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried catnip. Cover and steep until cool. Flavor if desired. Strain and sweeten. For children, give 1 tablespoon; adults get 2 tablespoons.

HOP SEDATIVE: Pour 1 quart boiling water over 1-1/2 teaspoons dried hops flowers. Let steep, covered, 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Add lemon juice if desired. (more…)